Hood construction



0 w. J, yHALL Hoon CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1952 Jan. l5,

Pnentee Jan. 1s, 1935 1,987,774-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,987,774 HOOD CONSTRUC'EN William J. Hall, Detroit, Mich., assignoi', by mesne assignments, of thirty per cent to Ollie L. Herron, thirty per cent to Joseph B. Zimmers, thirty-three per cent to William J. l-lall, and seven peli cent to R. C. Schemmel Application January 25, 1832, Serial No. 588,566

s emma (ci. is--nsi This invention relates to hinge constructions scale taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig.

and it has particular relation to a hood and l but showing the hood in perspective;

manner of hinging the wings. of the hood. Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown by Fig.

One object of vthe invention is to provide an 2 illustrating the manner in which the hood 5 improved hood construction having wings Wings may be moved into their raised` and 5 hinged on an intermediate support in such man- Opened positions; ner that the hinges are concealed, thereby great- Fig. 4 is a larger view in cross section more ly enhancing the appearance of the hood, it particularly illustrating a preferred construcbeing apparent that if the wings smoothly opertion and relation of the hinged parts on the l0 ate in a pivotal manner, without visibly reveal- Wing and support therefor. 1o ing the hinging relation of the support and Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an elongated plate wings, the smooth and stream line appearance element is provided which is constructed of the vehicle will be greatly improved. preferably of sheet metal, and this element at Another object of the invention is to provide opposite ends ordinarily will be secured to a raa hood having wings so hinged that the exposed diator 11 and cowl 12 of an automobile. The 15 surfaces of the hood adjacent the hinging partsV plate 10 constitutes a hinge support for hood as well as the exposed surfaces of the support in wings 13 and 14, preferably identical in conthis location will not be marred or scratched struction although oppositely disposed, and con'- during hinging movement of the wings. It folsequently, a description of the manner of conlows that the finish of the hood and support structing the wing 13 and the manner in which 20 will not be impaired, or at least those surfaces it is hinged to the element 10 seems suflicient. which are visible will not be marred or scratched The Wing comprises preferably a plane portion and the appearance of the finish will remain the 1 5 terminating in an inwardly extending ange same as the body of the hood. 16 which abuts a flange 17 of a hinge part 18,

yAnother object of the invention is to provide such flanges being connected by rivets or any 25 .a hood having wings hinged in such manner that other suitable means such as spot welding the the `exposed and finished surfaces of the hood flanges at spaced points. The hinge part 18 will not come into contact during movement of at the upper edge of the flange 17 is rolled tothe wings. form a male hinge element and the element or Another object of the invention is to provide plate 10 at its adjacent edge iS rolled t0 form 30 a hood having hinged wings in which the hinga female element. Such male and female eleing parts are so constructed and related that ments then may be associated by telescoping theeither wing may be maintained in a raised or parts longitudinally. lowered positionwhen moved to either of said As an exampleof a preferred arrangement of positions. surfaces, and relation of diierent parts of the 35 Another object of the invention is to provide male and female members, attention is directed a hood having hinged wings which can be manto Fig. 4 which illustrates the parts on a large ufactured from rolled sheet metal thereby dis- Scale- In tn lf" ConstluC-tlon the upper end 0f pensing with the use of the usual auxiliary Bange 17 ioms a curved portion 2o having a.

hinged parte ordinarily manufactured Separate center of curvature indicated at 2l, the radius of 40 ly of the hood and subsequently associated the outrmost'sua being apprxlmately 'U64 therewith. et an itnch. This citirlved 1'.peilltiorlii preferably other objects of the invention will be appar- .emma es appoxlma e y .a e .ne 22 sind Joins an approxmiately straight portion 23 which ent from the description and drawing relating extends substantially to the une 24 From the thereto, and the claims which have been set une 24 to approximately the line 25 the hinge fofthpart is curved as indicated at 26, about a center F01 a better understanding 0f the invention 27, the radius of curvature of the 'outermost reference may be had t0 the accompanying surface being approximately .242 inches. From drawing forming apart of the Specification, the line 25 to the line 28 the hinge part is 5o wherein: curved asindicated at 29 about a center 30,

Figure 1 iS a fragmentary Plan View 0f an the radius of curvature of the outermost surface automobile having a. hood constructed accordbeing approximately .164 inches. From the line ing to one form of the invention; 28 to approximately the line 31 the hinge part Fig. 2 is a' cross-sectional view on a larger is curved as indicated4 at 32 about a center 33. 6.6-

the radius of curvature of the outermost surface being approximately .125 inches. From the line 31 to the end edge 35 of the hinge part, the latter is curved as indicated at 34 about a center 36, the radius of curvature of the outermost surface being approximately .062 inches. The outermost surface of the curved portion 34 nearest the substantially plane portion 23 of the hinge 'part 18 normally Will be disposed very closely adjacent to the plane of the body 15 of the Wing 13, or slightly below such body portion, as shown by Fig. 4, and for this reason it Would be rather difficult from a practical point of view to roll the male hinge part unless the body 15 of the Wing were manufactured separately of the hinge part and subsequently connected thereto by means of the anges 16 and 17 in the manner previously described.

On the element 10, from approximately the line 40 to the line 41, a curved portion 42 is provided having a center of curvature substantially coinciding with the point 33 previously mentioned, the radius of curvature of the innermost surface being approximately .129 inches or, in other words, slightly greater than the radius of curvature of the outermost surface of portion 32 of the hinge part 18. From the line 41 to the inner end of the hinge part of element 10, indicated at 44, a curved portion is provided having a center of curvature substantially coinciding with the center 36, and a radius of curvature of its innermost surface, of approximately 116 of an inch.

From the above description it will be apparent that the element 10 has a rolled portion comprising parts 42 and 45 which are of circular character, but that such circular portions have different centers of curvature, namely, the centers 33 and 36, as well as different radii. It also will be noted that the inner end of the rolled portion of the element 10 indicated at 44, terminates at a point sufiiciently spaced from the inner surface of circular portion 42, to permit proper manipulation of the hinge part 18 with respect thereto. It also will be apparent that the hinge part 18 from the straight portion 23, gradually extends in a generally spiral manner to the terminal edge 35, and that the spiral formation comprises true curved portions 26, 29, 32 and 34 having different radii and centers. It also will be noted that the radius of curvature of the outermost surface of portion 34 substantially corresponds to the radius of curvature of the innermost surface of portion 45 of the element 10, and that the radius of curvature of the innermost surface of portion 42 on element 10, substantially corresponds to the radius of curvature of the outermost surface of portion 32 on the hinge part 18. Hence, when the hinge is in its closed position as shown by Fig. 4 as Well as Fig. 2, the outer surface of portions 32 and 34 of the male member or hinge part 18, sub- -stantially contact with the inner surfaces of portions 45 and 42 of the female hinge element 10.

When the wing is moved toward open position as shown by Fig. 3, it appears that pivotal movement occurs about a point approximately located at and that as the wing approaches open position, the inner surface of the portion 34 of the male hinge element hooks over the extremity 44 of the female hinge part as shown in Fig. 3. This hooking feature serves to limit the wing in its opening movement as weil as to positively retain it in open position because when so opened, the Wing is in an over-balanced position as clearly shown by Fig. 3. When the wing is in its closed position it is apparent that the engagement of complementary surfaces on the hinging parts positively limits its closing movement and hence serves in a sense to hold the wing in proper position.

While it has been stated that pivotal movement of the wing seems to occur approximately about a point indicated at 50 in Fig. 4, this point seems to change somewhat during final opening movement of the wing, and as the wing approaches its open position the point seems to move downwardly slightly along the inner surface of the curved portion 45 of the female member away from the end 44 thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2, it is apparent that vision of the exposed surfaces of the hinge parts, for instance, substantially may oe limited to the point on the female member and substantially the point 6l on the male member, or in other words, if an observer were to look through the space between the female hinge part on the element 10, and the body portion of the wing, the surfaces would be visible substantially only to the points 60 and 61. Now during hinging movement of the wing, such visible surfaces normally will not contact with any other surface and, consequently, will not be marred or scratched, and

after the wing is again closed, the visible sur- 5 faces will still have their initial finish. This is highly advantageous because the preservation of exposed surfaces of a motor vehicle, is quite important from the vehicle appearance point of view.

In general, the male and female parts of the hinge are so designed that when assembled together by sliding the male section into the female section, a smooth Working, shake proof hinge results, which can at no time during the whole working range of pivotal movement come into contact with the visible parts of the hinge, thereby preserving the finish and preventing an unsightly appearance. Moreover, the hinge parts are so constructed and related, that they cannot come apart except in precisely the same manner as that in which they are assembled, or in other words they must be assembled and disassembled in a telescopic manner. Furthermore, the hinge prevents water and the like from entering the motor space under the hood.

Attention is directed to the fact that the curved hinge portions of the male members on both hood Wings are spaced as shown in Fig. 2, and that this space increases as the wings are opened as shown in Fig. 3. It would be possible to have such parts of the male members contact with the Wings in closed position, since they move apart in opening, but no contact is necessary, and they may be spaced at all times as illustrated.

-It is apparent that a novel form of hinge construction as well as hood construction, has been provided, which enables operation of the hood Wings easily, and in a nice, smooth Working manner. Moreover, it is apparent that the hinge can be constructed efficiently and inexpensively by rolling the metal into the form described, and that the hinge parts may readily be assembled by telescoping the male part into the female part. It is also apparent that a hinge has been provided for a hood, which insures preservation of the exposed and finished surfaces of the hood, and eliminates scratching or otherwise marring of any surfaces during hinging movement of the y purchased from wings, which would be visible particularly when the wing is in its closed position, in which position it is in practically all of the time. Moreover, it is apparent that the hinge provides means for limiting and holding the wing in its open position, which is quite advantageous when it is desired to obtain access to the vehicle motor by raising one of the hood wings. The several advantages manifestly are quite important in the vehicle manufacturing industry, not only from a manufacturing point of view, but from the operating point of view after the hood is the manufacturer.

Although only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hinge comprising plate elements having interengaging rolled edges, one plate having a curved sector adjacent its edge, and a second curved sector at its edge which has a smaller radius of curvature, the other platel having a curved edge sector adapted to receive the smaller curved sector of the rst plate when the plates are in one position, the first mentioned sector when the plates are related as last mentioned, being spaced from and free to move through a substantial hinging movement without engaging the outer surface of the second plate curved sector, but being substantially complementary thereto and engaging it after such hinging movement, the second curved sector on the first plate being adapted to receive .and hook over the free edge of the second plate during such hinging movement.

2. A hinge comprising plates having interengaging rolledv4 edges, one edge terminating in a curved sector substantially complementary to and tting in a curved sector of the other edge when the plates are in one position, such inner edge sector being curved about a small radius and the length of the arc being such as to provide a hook, the .entry of which substantially corresponds to' the thickness of the other plate edge, whereby during hinging movement to move the inner curved sector out of surface engagement with the outer sector, the edge of the latter enters the hook portion. l

3. A hinge comprising plates having interengaging curved edges, one within the other, the inner curved edge having a substantial arc portion, the outer surface of which fits against the inner surface of a substantial arc portion of the other rolled edge when the plates are in one position, 'the first mentioned arc portion terminating in a curved hook, the entry to which is substantially the same in dimensions as the thickness of the edge of the other plate, so that during hinging movement, the edge may move into the hook.

4. A hinge for hoods comprising a plate having one edge portion curved downwardly and then toward the center of theplate, with the free edge terminating in spaced lrelation to the plate body to provide an en ry opening, and a second plate extending along the edge of the rst plate and having a hook-shaped edge portion nested in the curved portion of the first plate when the parts are in one position, and also having a portion extending through such entry opening and then partially about, and in substantially spaced relation to the outer surface of the first curved edge portion, the hook shaped edge portion on the second plate receiving the free edge of the curved portion of the rst plate after a predetermined hinging move-Y ment, to lock the parts together.

5. A hood hinge comprising, a pair of plate members disposed in side-by-side relation, one plate member having its edge portion adjacent the other, curved downwardly and then re` versely toward the center of the plate to provide a hook-shaped portion plate having its edge portion adjacent the first plate, provided with a' curved portion nesting in the hook-portion of the ilrst plate when the plates are in one position, and having a portion extending through the entry opening of the first curved portion and then in substantially spaced relation to the outer surface of the latter curved portion, the curved portion on the second plate receiving the free edge of the curved portion on the iirst plate whenthe second plate is hinged relative to the other, the parts being so related as to prevent the substantially spaced portion on the second plate from engaging and lmarring surfaces on the first plate and its curved portion, visible from the upper sides of the plates. l WILLIAM J.

having its entry open-l ing toward the center of the plate, the other- 

